driekoppig

Driekoppig is a Dutch adjective meaning having three heads. The term is formed from drie (three) and kop (head) with the suffix -ig and is used to describe beings or figures with exactly three heads. It is commonly found in folklore, fantasy literature, and media, and can also appear in descriptive or metaphorical language.

In practice, driekoppig is most often used before a noun to denote a three-headed creature, such as a driekoppige draak or a driekoppige Cerberus. The form is part of standard Dutch adjective inflection, and you will encounter phrases in both historical and contemporary texts. The term is especially prevalent when referring to mythological beings like Cerberus, a three-headed watchdog in Greek mythology, or to monsters such as three-headed dragons from folklore and fiction.

Outside of folklore and fiction, the concept is discussed in biology and zoology as polycephaly, the condition of having multiple heads. In Dutch, polycephaly is the technical term, and driekoppig is generally reserved for descriptive or literary usage rather than technical reporting. When used in scientific writing, driekoppig may appear in comparative or descriptive prose but is less common as a formal diagnosis.

Overall, driekoppig conveys a clear image of triadic headcount and remains a staple descriptor in Dutch for mythological and fictional three-headed beings, while in scientific contexts more precise terminology is preferred.